In an election season where sops are the key in Telangana for Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Indian National Congress (INC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has added an ingredient of religion.
In its manifesto, the party has promised: removal of religion-based reservations, deportation of Rohingyas and other illegal immigrants, action against cow slaughter, and Razakars Horrors Remembrance Day, beside a host of other steps.
On the caste front, BJP promised a Chief Minister from the BC community, Special BC Development Fund, and fast-track filling up of vacancies of SCs and STs. Prior to this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised re-categorisation of Scheduled Castes. It has been an issue that is hanging fire for more than three decades with Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) leader Manda Krishna Madiga fighting for it on all available forums. The MRPS says that most benefits of the 22% SC quota have eluded Madigas, who form the larger caste group in the category and require a sub-division to help them.
